Tools and accessories for the kitchen range from a simple spatula to the stylish and elegant Saint Romain 51.25” L Scraping Paddle.  Now that we are approaching the year 2020, your own research online will lead you to the proper kitchen accessory and price point that you and your kitchen require.  Adapting to your own style and skill level is paramount when building up your collection of kitchen accessories. At Williams Food Equipment, we serve chefs, restaurant owners, and home cooks with an extensive line of cookware. Here’s our guide to the essentials (not in order of importance).

1. Spatula

Johnson-Rose 7.75” Offset Spatula

The spatula as mentioned above should be one of the must-have kitchen accessories.  Handling hot or fragile food will always be a part of cooking. Flipping fragile salmon wouldn’t be so easy without your trusty spatula. Scooping up your perfectly prepared poached egg couldn’t be accomplished unless a slotted spatula was in your hand.

Spatulas are simple.  They pick and scoop stuff up.  Yet, there are many varieties that perform individual tasks better than the other.  The bend, slots, and material of the spatula itself all add to the performance required to execute their specific duties. 

Offset Spatula

This spatula is needed for the baker.  From 4.25” to 9.5”, these spatulas are a must-have for anyone who decorates cakes.  The stainless-steel blade is supple, allowing a bend to curve onto delicate surfaces.  The Johnson-Rose line of spatulas are one of the best lines of spatulas available.  Affordable, and long-lasting, the Johnson-Rose 7.75” Offset Spatula is a ridiculous value at under $5! 

Slotted Spatula

The slotted spatula is great for poached eggs!  The slotted spatula is the perfect kitchen accessory for scooping items from fats or liquids.  Allowing fragile foods such as a poached egg to drain and be held out of water is essential for the breakfast home chef.  The Zwilling 13.75” Pro Slotted Spatula Turner is paramount in any kitchen! 

Silicone Spatula

The latest and greatest material to hit the kitchen gadget world.  Silicone spatulas ensure sticky foods don’t stick. Bread doughs to the bottom of a stock pot, a silicone spatula will easily remove and fold all things adhesive.  Scraping off the bottom of the pan for gravy couldn’t be quicker applying the Chef Craft series of silicone spatulas.  

Grilling/BBQ Spatula

These spatulas are sturdy and can lift heavier weighted foods such as a prime rib or whole chicken.  Often, they have a serrated edge if a bit of chopping or digging under the food off the grill is needed.  There is no better spatula for the outdoors than the Outset Rosewood and S/S Spatula with Serrated Edge! 

2. Board

Wusthof 53cm x 32cm Black Flex Cutting Board

Another underappreciated kitchen accessory is the cutting board.  Cutting boards prevent your expensive counters from being damaged, they prevent illness by being made of proper materials, and they are often decorative!  Trying to cut uncooked chicken anywhere but on a clean, cutting board made strictly for poultry creates an unnecessary risk. Utilizing plastic for meats is best.  Everything but meat may be sliced, diced, cut, and chopped on a wooden cutting board. 

Plastic Cutting Boards

Plastic is the preferred choice for meat as it will not absorb into the cutting board material and is dishwasher safe for sanitization.  The ultimate cutting board on the market today is the Wusthof 53cm x 32cm Black Flex Cutting Board.  This Wusthof cutting board can be sterilized and holds no odors or flavors. 

Wood Cutting Boards

When selecting a wood cutting board, you may wonder which type of wood is best. Olivewood is the perfect wood for a cutting board due to its composition and durability.  The Berard France 9” x 6” Olivewood Cutting Board is stylish and functional.  

Slate Cutting Boards

The third type of must-have cutting boards come in the form of natural slate.  The Epicurean 14.5” x 11.25” x 3/8” Slate/ Natural Gourmet Series Cutting had deep side grooves to catch any dripping liquids.  Plus, the weight keeps you in better control of the food. 

3. Knives

Zwilling J.A. Henckels 7” Twin Santoku Knife

Knives are the next kitchen accessory we find indisposable.  There are many different styles of knives for different culinary needs.  Learning about knives will lead you into the distinctions between Japanese style vs the German style.  Both are incredible. And now, the two styles have blended in some knife companies’ array.  In a nutshell, the German knives are more effective for heavier tasks, hence their heavier weight.  Japanese knives are for more delicate and precise work. 

The beautiful melding of the two countries stylish take on knife craftsmanship comes in the Zwilling J.A. Henckels 7” Twin Santoku Knife.  Kitchen prep is made easy with the straight lower tip.  Meat, fish and veggies are sliced thinly without effort. A profession grip, perfect 60 Rockwell hardness, and fully visible tang make this knife a guaranteed must-have tool for any home chef's kitchen! 

How to Keep Knives Sharp

Remember that knife sharpening is necessary to keep your knives in excellent shape for prepping your next gourmet meal.  A MAC 10.5” Grooved Black Ceramic Honing Rod sharpens knives in a cinch.  If you're in need of a complete home chef knife set up, the Victorinox 24 Piece Executive Culinary Knife Set with Rosewood Handles has EVERYTHING you'll need.

4. Vacuum Sealer

Vesta Vac n’ Sale Vacuum Sealer

Fourth kitchen must-have accessory is the vacuum sealer.  Saving money and food is a very important topic to most.  A vacuum sealer allows food to stay fresh 5 times longer (or more depending what it is).  People enjoy shopping at the big discount membership stores now-a-days. But who needs a dozen rib eyes?

With a Vesta Vac n’ Sale Vacuum Sealer, all your food from raw to leftovers are on sale! Merely seal and place in your freezer for later.  Also, a new technique in home cooking is sous vide. These bags are meant for sous vide. A great machine to start your sous vide cooking journey is the All Clad Sous Vide Immersion Circulator.  Okay, we cheated and added the BONUS accessory, Sous Vide.

5. Measuring Spoons

All Clad 8 Piece Measuring Cup  & Spoon Set

All recipes start with accurate measurement - and a go-to for those dabbling in the craft of cooking are measuring spoons.  

You need more of these than you think, until  you use your wet measuring spoon in a dry ingredient, then you know why you need multiple sets.  Always have a few different sets of measuring spoons on hand. They range from the inexpensive such as the Johnson Rose 4 Piece Tapered Measuring Spoon Set for less than $4.  Too the still very affordable and needed, All Clad 8 Piece Measuring Cup  & Spoon Set for less than $60. 

6. Mixing Bowls

All-Clad 3 Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

Mixing bowls are the next must-have kitchen accessory.  Mixing ingredients such as marinades and dressings are best performed in a stainless-steel mixing bowl.  They come in all sizes for all mixing jobs. Serving can also be accomplished in a mixing bowl. Freeze one, then place your undressed salad in to keep the lettuce fresher longer. 

Mixing wet and dry ingredients are hassle-free in the All-Clad 3 Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set.  The 5qt size can fit your chicken breasts after you have made the ideal marinade in the same bowl!  

7. Whisks

Saint Romain 23.5” L Special Whisk

What is mixing and marinating without a whisk?  Next on the list, the whisk is a multi-tasker that all kitchens need.  With a whisk, immersion is accomplished easier through the wires. Adding air creates the whip for whip cream, fluffy eggs, and perfectly blended sauces.  If you cook all of your meals at home, this handy kitchen accessory will be used daily.

Whisks come in various sizes for their uses. The Browne 12” Piano Whip is a go-to for all small jobs.  At $7, this is a must-have! For restaurants, large tasks, or one who wishes the best of all whisks, the Saint Romain 23.5” L Special Whisk is for them! 

8. Pots and Pans

Finex 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Next must-have kitchen accessory is pots and pans.  But, if you had to have just one, the cast iron skillet with lid should be the one!  Why this type of pan? Because you can do everything in it! The Finex 12” Cast Iron Skillet with Lid does it all.  The polished bottom enables eggs to be cooked perfectly, with an effortless clean-up. 

Eggs were impossible in cast iron.  Not with the Finex. Also, deep frying, poaching, simmering, stewing, and whatever your recipe or experiment requires can be done in this skillet .  Let’s not forget Lodge and Le Creuset also have equally chef-worthy cast iron skillets!

9. Baking Sheet Pan

Winco 10” x 13” Aluminum Baking Sheet

A necessary component of any kitchen is a baking sheet pan.  Baking anything from cookies, to chicken to veggies can be achieved on a baking sheet pan.  Being flat, food stays level to cook uniformly. You won’t believe how much a baking sheet is needed until you don’t have one.  

The Winco 10” x 13” Aluminum Baking Sheet is ready to bake anything.  At less than $9, it is a no brainer to have a few on hand in your kitchen - let's not forget cookie baking parties.  For larger jobs such as meats, the All Clad D3 Stainless Steel Ovenware Roasting Sheet w/ cooling Rack will allow for any and all baking and roasting in your oven. 

10. Slow Cooker

Wolf Gourmet

The slow cooker has been around for quite a while now.  And for good reason!  Tossing all your ingredients in a pot, throwing a lid on it, setting it, then going to work only to find a delicious dinner waiting for you is an incredible experience! The slow cooker is a definite must-have kitchen accessory for your kitchen! 

The selection of slow cookers on the market vary between $20 to almost $600.  Any slow cooker is a vital tool in the kitchen. The end all, be all of slow cookers is the Wolf Gourmet.  This gem does everything!  Even sears meat before slowly cooking to a perfect temperature. The 4QT All Clad with Ceramic Insert Slow Cooker is an ideal purchase for a once a week, slow cooked meal. 

11. Cooking Thermometer

Taylor Dual Temperature Infared/Thermocouple Thermometer

Welcome to 2020!  We don’t need to over-cook our food due to wife’s tales of the past.  That dry turkey, pork, and beef are now over. Next on the list is the thermometer - let's end the burnt insanity of the long-ago thoughts of 180 turkey breast. 

Cooking your turkey breast to 162, tenting with foil, and letting it rest for a half an hour will ensure a moist, flavorful breast every time!  The Johnson Rose Pocket Dial Thermometer at less than $7 stops dry food. The Taylor Dual Temperature Infared/Thermocouple Thermometer tells you exactly when your food is at what temperature.  A must-have!!!

12. Eating Utensils

Weaves Mirror Finish 20 Piece Flatware Set

Finally, since we all need em’, are plates, cups, bowls, spoons, and forks.  What is eating without a cup of tea or coffee, and your food on a plate or in a bowl?  And to eat the food, a fork and spoon really help! 

Sets are the easiest, and best looking at the table, to purchase.  This set of 4 dinner and side plates, with 4 salad/soup bowls, along with 4 teacups and saucers can be in your own home showcasing your home chef creations.  The Mann Classic Bone China Topia Collection will impress all your guests.  And the Weaves Mirror Finish 20 Piece Flatware Set will allow all your guests a great dining experience. 

These are merely twelve, well, a bit more must-have kitchen accessories.  Breaking down the culinary world, and all the countries, techniques, and processes involved in cooking, one can spend a lifetime learning and still will never know everything.  Continue to research and stay fascinated with all things culinary.

Final Note

We at Williams Food Equipment strive to do all the research for you, finding all the latest accessories, tools, gizmos, and gadgets.  We study hard to keep us all on track with the newest, latest and greatest accessories for the kitchen that are trusted by professionals and beloved by home chefs.  Our fine line of products and the great relationships we have with our incredible manufacturers, and you the customer, keep us excited to keep on cooking! Check out our brand index to find out what other cooking accessories we carry.